Dead and Gone

by Jack Patterson

  If they only knew …

  Then he stopped. It was a message from Owen Burns. Burns called several minutes before while Cal was finishing his story and he sent it to voicemail.

  Please tell me you got the message

  And then another one:

  I need your help!

  Cal texted him back:

  Where are you?

  Then the reply:

  RV City. I’m texting you my location on GPS.

  Then another text:

  Hurry. Bring the cops. They’re after me.

  Cal stared out at the track, bustling with activity for the pre-race pageantry.

  Who’s after you?

  He shoved his phone in his pocket and caught a tram to exit the infield. He hopped off and walked another four hundred yards against the flow of the crowd until he reached the next tram stop.

  As he stood in line, he noticed a sheriff’s deputy nearby. The deputy approached him. “Cal Murphy?”

  “Yes?” Cal said.

  “I’m Deputy Hewes from District 2. I saw you this morning down at the office. How’s your day going?”

  Cal sighed. “Terrible and wonderful—all at the same time.”

  “Any way I can help you?”

  “As a matter of fact, there is. I’ve got a friend in trouble right now who needs me. He said someone is after him and to bring some law enforcement. You definitely qualify.”

  The deputy furrowed his brow. “Do you know what this is about?”

  “It’s got something to do with a story that I just broke, I think. People didn’t want this story to get out—but it has.”

  “Where’s your friend?”

  “I’m trying to find him now. Join me.”

  The tram pulled up to the stop. Moments later, Cal was riding next to Hewes headed into the heart of RV city. He explained to the deputy what had just happened and what he thought was going on. The deputy scribbled down a few notes on his pad.

  Cal pulled out his phone and tried to find Burns’ location.

  Hewes leaned over and looked at Cal’s phone. “Got anything yet?”

  “Not yet.” A pause. “Oh, wait. Right here. We need to get off at the next stop.”

  Cal didn’t wait for the tram to stop before he hurdled the safety chain and ran in the direction of Burns’ location. He checked over his shoulder to see Hewes was following after him, radioing for more assistance.

  As Cal ran down one of the main thoroughfares, he turned right and saw Burns. With blood oozing from several cuts on his face and a tattered shirt, Burns struggled to stay upright on his knees. Once he noticed the deputy, Burns flung his arm behind him. “They went that way, not ten seconds ago.” Then he collapsed face first to the ground.

  Cal rushed over to him and turned him over on his back. “Who did this?”

  Burns shook his head. “I don’t know. They just kept hitting me.”

  “Had you ever seen them before?”

  Burns shook his head again.

  Cal scanned the area. “Okay, I’m gonna get you some water and medical help.”

  He found a medical station a hundred yards away and dragged one of the personnel with him toward Burns.

  While Burns received attention, Cal told him an abbreviated version of what happened with Holmes and Beaumont. As Cal finished relaying the events, he looked up and saw four deputies walking behind a pair of handcuffed men in dark suits. As Hewes walked up to Cal, he tipped his cap. “Thanks for the heads up.” He reached inside one of the men’s pockets and fished out his phone. “Unlock it for me,” Hewes said.

  Hewes scrolled through the phone until he handed it to Cal. “Does that number look familiar?”

  Cal nodded. “That number belongs to Ned Davis.”

  “Great. That’ll give us a good starting point for this investigation.” He took the phone back and passed the detainee off to another deputy. “So, Mr.—”

  “Burns.”

  “Mr. Burns, can you tell me what happened?”

  Burns adjusted the icepack on his cheekbone. “Where to begin?”

  CHAPTER 56

  JESSICA TANNER SMOOTHED her hair out and opened the door to the RV. She swallowed hard and stared down at the two men outside. They scanned the near-desolate campgrounds and ascended the steps.

  “Mrs. Tanner,” the first man said as he tipped his black bowler hat. The second man followed him inside without saying a word.

  She sat down.

  “I’m Bill,” the man said. “Gary here is gonna take a look around, if you don’t mind.”

  Sweat beaded up on her face as she shook her head. “I don’t mind at all.”

  Gary stumbled around and opened every door he could find, including the cabinets.

  “I see the news convinced you,” Jessica said.

  Bill laughed. “I wasn’t sure what to believe.”

  Gary nodded at him and gave him the okay sign. Bill then held out his hand, palm up. “Where’s your cell phone, Mrs. Tanner?”

  “Right here,” she said, reaching for it on the table.

  He snapped his fingers. “Give it here.” He threw it down on the ground and stomped on it a few times.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “Just makin’ sure you don’t call the cops after we leave.” He rubbed her head and then sat down. “No hard feelings.” He adjusted his suit coat. “So, let’s get down to business.”

  “Before we do, I want to know how Carson got tied up with you.”

  Bill laughed. “No big deal. He was just lookin’ to expand his meager winnings by betting on some games here and there. He got a little behind. He told us he was going to pay us once the season was over. I’m a patient guy, but I knew I’d get nothin’ if I didn’t act now.” He paused for a moment. “And Mrs. Tanner, I want you to know I’m sorry for your loss. I actually liked your husband.”

  A tear trickled down Jessica’s face. “You have a funny way of showing it—threatening his widow.”

  Bill waved his hand dismissively. “Ah, I don’t threaten. I promise to do something and take action. Threats are empty.” Then he threw his head back and laughed again. “You don’t climb to the top of this world making empty threats; you climb it with action.”

  She wiped the tear away. “That’s funny. I was always taught you rise to the top with a combination of hard work, integrity and good fortune.”

  “Work is the only thing that matters in your little trifecta. We all make our own fortunes, good or bad. So far, mine has been pretty good.” He took a deep breath and put his hands on his knees. “So, shall we get down to business or what?”

  “Fine,” Jessica muttered.

  “Do you have the money I asked for?”

  “And what exactly is this for again?”

  “Look, lady, I don’t need to spell this out for you. I already told you what it was for.” Then he stood up and glared at her. “Are you wearing a wire?”

  Gary lunged at Jessica and ripped at her shirt. She tried to withdraw, but it was too late. Two buttons on her blouse popped loose, exposing not much more than an inch of black wire snaking around her bra. But it was visible—and that was enough for Bill.

  Bill grabbed her hair and shoved her toward the door. “Let’s get outta here now.”

  As they descended the steps of the RV, an FBI SWAT team surrounded them.

  “Drop your weapons,” one of the agents shouted.

  Bill ignored the command. Instead, he shuffled along the edge of the RV with his gun pressed firmly into Jessica’s head.

  “Nobody has to get hurt,” Bill said. “Especially the little lady here. Don’t you think she’s been through enough this past week.”

  “Just let her go,” the lead agent yelled.

  “Or what? You won’t arrest me?” Bill cackled. “Pardon me if I don’t trust you.”

  ***

  CAL STARED AT HIS PHONE that now seemed to vibrate constantly with alerts that new messages had arrived. He scrolled thr
ough them and smiled. It had been a while since he’d broken a story this big and it felt good, a feeling he imagined was about as high as winning a championship for the athletes he covered.

  With just fifteen minutes until the green flag dropped, Cal found himself as the tram’s lone passenger. Every serious race fan—which would be everyone on site—was already seated inside the raceway. Cal paused for a moment to make small talk with the tram driver. Then he returned to scrolling through the messages.

  But when the tram slowed down unexpectedly, Cal looked up to see the driver staring into RV city with his mouth agape. Cal turned to see two men slinking away from an FBI SWAT team, all with weapons trained on the men. And the men had a hostage. His stomach sank when he recognized who it was: Jessica.

  She looked over and saw him. “Cal!” she screamed.

  The two men stopped. The man holding Jessica cranked his neck in the direction of the tram. “Hey, you, driver guy. Stop. I need to borrow your tram.”

  The driver followed the instructions. He parked the tram and left it running, fleeing into RV city.

  Cal jumped up to follow him.

  “Not so fast, buddy,” the man said. “You’re going to join us.”

  Cal watched as the SWAT team lowered their guns and took no action.

  Still clutching Jessica, the man slid onto the same row as Cal. “Nice to meet you, Cal. I’m Bill.” A pause. “I’m the man you need to listen to if you want to live.”

  CHAPTER 57

  THE TRAM LURCHED FORWARD and Cal stared at his feet. He couldn’t bear to look at Jessica after he’d gotten her into this mess. Half an hour ago, he experienced one of the greatest highs in his career. Now, he thought it was all a worthless endeavor, especially if it meant the end of his life or Jessica’s.

  Bill remained quiet as Gary drove the tram toward an unknown destination—at least to Cal it was unknown. Cal went over scenarios in his mind about where they might be headed. With miles of dirt roads in the valley, they could be headed anywhere. And wherever they were going, danger would lurk, that much Cal was sure of.

  After ten minutes, the tram stopped.

  “Let’s go,” Bill said.

  By this time, he’d lowered his gun, holding it in Jessica’s back instead of to her head. Gary jumped out of the driver’s seat and rushed over to help Bill corral the two prisoners. Gary grabbed Cal by the arm and led him forward.

  “Let’s move it, you two,” Bill growled.

  They walked toward a Chevy Silverado with an extended cab and tinted windows.

  “This is perfect,” Bill shouted. With his free hand, he pulled a small device out of his pocket and jimmied the door open. Cal and Jessica climbed into the back of the cab before Gary zip tied their hands together.

  Bill then took off his jacket and grabbed a t-shirt from underneath the seat. He dug around in the console and found a pair of beat-up sunglasses along with a pack of Marlboro Lights.

  He laughed again. “This is better than perfect!”

  Once everyone was secure in the truck, Bill hotwired the engine and pulled onto one of the perimeter roads in RV city. He drove slowly and took a deep breath once he saw the exit, manned by a Maricopa Sheriff’s Deputy.

  “No way out now,” Cal said.

  “Shut up,” snarled Bill. “There’s always a way out. If you say one word, I’ll shoot the both of you and this dopy deputy.”

  Bill rolled his window just over halfway as he approached the officer.

  “How are you gentlemen doing today?” asked the deputy, who couldn’t see deep into the truck.

  “Doin’ good,” Bill said as he forced a smile.

  “Any reason you’re leavin’ while the race is about to begin?”

  “Beer run!” Bill said as he turned and high-fived Gary, who was getting into character.

  The deputy cocked his head. “You are aware that there’s a Safeway grocery store on the premises, aren’t you?”

  Bill nodded. “Yeah, but they’re out of Natty Light.”

  “And you didn’t come for the race?”

  “Of course, we did. But we really came to party!”

  The deputy stepped back. “I need you to step out of the vehicle.”

  Bill threw his hands up but remained seated. “What for? We haven’t done anything wrong.”

  “I just want to make sure you guys haven’t been drinking too much.”

  “Well, all right,” Bill said. He kept his hands in the air where the deputy could see them—but it didn’t matter. Bill lunged at the officer and grabbed him by the back of his shirt before slamming his head into the door three times. The officer slumped to the ground.

  “Hurry up, Gary, and give me a hand,” Bill said as he scanned the area. Cal looked around to see if anyone had witnessed what just happened. No one else was around.

  Cal slumped back into his seat.

  “What are we gonna do, Cal?” Jessica asked.

  “I—I don’t know,” he mumbled. “I’ll think of something. Just don’t panic.”

  “Don’t panic? Don’t panic? Don’t panic?” her voicing rising an octave each time she uttered the phrase.

  Cal watched as Bill and Gary finished moving the deputy into his car and positioned his hat over his face like he was taking a nap.

  “Look, just calm down,” he said. “Here they come. Just be cool. We’ll figure this out.”

  Bill jumped back into the truck and roared west on Indian Springs Road, which ran parallel to the track. They continued in silence for about two miles until they came to the edge of Estrella Mountain Park. The road veered right and Bill drove on until he slammed on his brakes.

  Cal lunged forward and hit his head on the back of Bill’s seat. When Cal looked up, Bill’s face was inches away from his.

  “Move outta the way!” Bill barked as he looked over his shoulder and rammed the truck into reverse.

  Cal leaned back and to the side to view a roadblock about a hundred yards down the road. Then he peered behind him to notice two black Suburbans blocking the road to their rear.

  “Everybody hold on,” Bill said.

  Cal drew his knees up and tucked his head between them, gesturing to Jessica to do the same.

  Wham!

  The truck rammed into the two Suburbans as the steel crunched and squealed on impact. The tires screeched and burned while Bill kept the accelerator pedal to the floor to get all the way through. After a few seconds, the truck shook free and sped backward away from the roadblock.

  Cal watched several FBI agents with their guns trained on the truck, but they didn’t shoot.

  One violent turn and the truck now faced in the opposite direction, headed on a gravel road into the backside of Estrella Mountain Park.

  “What have we got here?” Bill asked.

  Gary scrolled on his phone. “Keep going. Just ahead on the right. It’s a horse park.”

  “Excellent!”

  Cal looked through a trail of dust toward the former roadblock. He could only hope the FBI would come after them before something really bad happened.

  CHAPTER 58

  THE TRUCK SKIDDED to a stop and Bill and Gary hustled out of the truck. They pulled open the doors and yanked Cal and Jessica with them.

  “We’ve gotta move,” Bill barked.

  Bill stormed into the Western Corral Park’s office and brandished his firearm. “We need two horses now,” he said.

  The woman behind the counter swallowed hard. “Okay. Follow me.”

  “Don’t try to be a hero, lady,” Bill warned as they walked.

  She led them outside to a stable with about twenty horses by Cal’s best estimate.

  “Got any saddled and ready to go?” Bill asked.

  “This way,” the woman said as she led them toward the end of the stable. A stable hand, listening to music through his ear buds, brushed one of the horses. When he looked up to see the two gunmen dragging a pair of hostages toward him, he dropped his brush and dashed away.

&
nbsp; “Make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid,” Bill said.

  The lady nodded.

  She approached one of the horses and handed the reins to Bill. He hoisted Jessica onto the horse first before jumping up behind her.

  Gary shoved Cal up onto the horse before climbing up behind him as well.

  The woman stared at them. “Now, I need to tell you a few things about these horses—”

  “Save it, lady,” Bill said. “We’re not interested.” He looked around the stable. “Are these all your horses?”

  She nodded.

  “I want this entire stable opened up right now. I don’t want any of the feds coming after us on these horses. Got it?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  She didn’t move.

  “Do it now!”

  She scrambled down the stable, opening each gate to release the horses. In a matter of moments, Bill and Gary were at the reins of two horses ahead of a growing stampede.

  Cal clung to Gary as the horses climbed the rocky terrain and headed deep into the park.

  The two assailants rode along in silence. It seemed eerie to Cal, like they’d either done this before or were communicating some other way. It spooked Cal, whose stomach grew queasier with each passing minute.

  After thirty minutes of traversing along the mountainside, Bill led them toward a dry gulch. With a patch of trees, it provided the most cover in an otherwise open terrain.

  “You need a break?” Bill asked Gary.

  “I’m good. Let’s keep movin’.”

  Cal glanced around and noticed a rattlesnake coiled up just a few yards ahead on the right. He took a deep breath before speaking.

  “Can we stop? I have to pee,” Cal said.

  Bill stopped his horse and turned and glared at Cal before producing a dramatic eye roll.

  “Did bitty bladder drink too much today?” Bill said. “I’m surprised you haven’t pooped your pants yet.”

  “I’m serious,” Cal pleaded.

  “Let’s keep moving.” Bill turned and continued along the gulch.

  “No!” shouted Gary. “I’m not gonna have this dweeb takin’ a piss all over my back. Let the man go.” Gary halted his horse.